“But,” observed Giaffar, “suppose the caliph were to-morrow morning to take it into his head to shut up the baths.”

“Now, may all the ghouls seize thee when thou visitest thy father’s tomb,” cried Yussuf, jumping up in a fury, “thou bear-whiskered rascal!  Did not I caution thee against evil predictions—­and did you not swear that you would deal no more in surmises?  The devil must attend you, and waft your supposes into the ear of the caliph, upon which to frame out his stupid fetvas.”

“I heartily ask your forgiveness, and I am dumb,” replied Giaffar.

“Then you are wise for once; prove yourself still wise, and hasten away before I reach my cudgel.”

Perceiving that Yussuf’s eyes twinkled with anger, they thought it right to follow his advice.  “We shall see you again, good Yussuf,” said the caliph, as they descended.

“To the devil with you all three, and never let me see your ugly faces again,” replied the water-carrier, slamming the door after they were out.  The caliph went away much amused, and with his attendants, entered the private gate of the seraglio.

The next morning the caliph held a solemn divan, at which all the mollahs, as well as all the chief officers, were present, and he issued a decree, that every bath throughout Bagdad should be shut for three days, on pain of impalement.  The inhabitants of Bagdad were swallowed up with wonder and perplexity.  “How,” exclaimed they, “what can this mean?  Yesterday we were ordered not to use the waters of the Tigris, to-day the baths are denied us.  Perhaps, to-morrow the mosques may be ordered to be shut up,” and they shook their heads, as if to hint to each other that the caliph was not in his senses; but they exclaimed, “In Allah only safety is to be found.”  Nevertheless, the decree was enforced by the proper officers, who went round to the different baths.  First they closed the Hummaum Alraschid, next that of Ziet Zobiede, then the bath of Giaffar Bermuki, at which Yussuf had found employment the day before.  When it was closed, the master and attendants looked at the door, and they reproached the assistants, who had befriended Yussuf, saying, he was a water-carrier, and the business was stopped by a decree.  You have brought him to the baths, and now they are shut.  In the meantime, Yussuf was perceived striding towards the bath, muttering to himself, “I am Yussuf; my trust is in God.  As an assistant at the hummaum will I live and die.”  Ignorant of the decree, he approached the door of the building, round which the servants were clustered, and accosted them.  “How now, my friends, do you wait for the key? if anything ails the lock, trust to the strength of Yussuf.”

“Have you not heard that the caliph has ordered the baths to be shut for three days, on pain of impalement?”

Yussuf started back with astonishment.  “Now, may the graves of their fathers be eternally defiled—­those confounded Moussul Merchants!  Their supposes always come to pass.  I will seek them out and be revenged.”  So saying, Yussuf, who had come prepared with his brushes, razors, and soap, turned off in a rage, and hastened through the streets for an hour or two, looking at every passenger, to ascertain if he could find those upon whom he would have wreaked his vengeance.